Now and then we throw a party at home. And what is a party without some booze and drinks, right?
As your dog will surely like some fun, what happens if they accidentally took a sip of alcohol? Is it bad for them? Can dogs get drunk?
Let’s find out.
Can Dogs Get Drunk?
Yes! When a dog drinks excessive alcohol, they get drunk, too. The smaller the dog, the smaller amount of alcohol it needs to make them drunk.
Some dog owners might find it hilarious seeing their dog all wobbly and woozy but stop the fun right there and take some action. It is a dangerous and deadly situation for your dog to be in. It just takes a sip for the amount of alcohol to be toxic to dogs and leads to alcohol poisoning.
Alcohol poisoning in dogs is not as common as dogs are not naturally inclined to alcohol. Of course, accidents may happen. While they may not be attracted to hard liquor, they can devour fruit-based drinks. Examples are like cocktails, punches, ciders and seltzers.
Foods with alcohol as a key ingredient like rum cake, fruit cake, or even unbaked dough are also dangerous.
Worse, if the alcohol is a diet version and it contains xylitol, an artificial sweetener, which is double-whammy and dangerous for your dog.
Can Dogs Drink Alcohol?
Or to translate that further, “is it okay for my dog to have even just a teensy sip?”
Sorry to break your bubble but a big no! If alcohol is bad for you, how much for your dog?
Again, a dog’s kidney is never meant to process alcohol of any kind whether beer, wine, or whatnot.
As a pet parent, it is your responsibility to keep your dogs away from harm including toxic alcohol.
What Happens if My Dog Got Drunk?
If you know that chocolates are toxic for dogs, alcohol is the same way. Even a teensy bit is poisonous for them and can potentially lead to death.
What causes it to be toxic? Both ethanol, the one that makes liquor, beer, and wine intoxicating and hops, used to brew beer, can cause alcohol drunkenness in dogs.
Alcohol has an immensely bad effect on dogs. When drunk, metabolic acidosis in dogs occurs. How bad is it? Just think of it as a domino effect. Once it starts, it goes all the way.
When it hits their system, internally, their temperature will drop dangerously low and so does their blood sugar. Even their breathing is affected. When their heart starts to race, coma, seizures, respiratory failure, and possible death may happen next.
Signs and Symptoms of Alcohol Toxicity in Dogs
It only takes a small amount for your dog to get drunk at a lethal level. According to research, the oral lethal dose in dogs of ethanol is 5.5 to 7.9 g/kg. How much is one milliliter of ethanol? It is equal to 0.789 g.
The signs and symptoms that your dog is drunk and experiencing alcohol toxicity are:
- Collapse
- Disorientation
- Drooling
- Drowsiness
- Unresponsiveness
- Excessive panting
- Experience excessive urination
- Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
- Hypotension (low blood pressure)
- Hypothermia (low body temperature)
- Involuntary defecation
- Muscle tremors and seizures
- Nausea
- Racing heart rate
- Shortness of breath
- Staggering and poor coordination
- Vomiting
- Weakness
If you think that it is impossible for your dog to get drunk but still exhibit the symptoms anyway, it is still best to consult your vet.
First Aid for My Drunken Dog
The best thing to do is to seek medical attention but while on the way or before going to the vet, it is best to determine how much alcohol your dog has consumed.
Give your dog warm (but not hot) water as they run the risk of low body temp and low blood glucose. Have dog biscuits at the ready, too.
What to Do if Your Dog Consumes Alcohol?
If your dog consumes alcohol, act fast! Their lives are at a risk! If they exhibit signs of alcohol poisoning, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) right away at (888) 426-4435.
The faster you can seek medical attention, the better. APCC is available 27/7 all year round so better save this number. They may just ask for a fee but it is a small price to pay for the life of your dog.
But it is really the best remedy: bring your dog at once to the vet. The doctor may administer an injection that will make your dog sick and allow it to vomit all its toxic contents. But this only works within 20 to 40 minutes after inducing the alcohol.
Treatments may include IV fluids that are meant to flush out the alcohol from their system. While intravenous glucose and drugs to suppress seizures.
Preventing Your Dog from Drinking Alcohol
Again, as a pet owner, it is your responsibility to keep your dog away from harm and that includes alcohol. Never give it alcohol or food and drinks with alcohol as the main content.
If you are having a party, gently instruct your guests not to share this dangerous drink. If your guests have split a drink, make sure to clean it properly. And never leave a bottle unattended.
WARNING: Alcohol can be Found in Unexpected Places
Did you know that there are a lot of household products that are risky for dogs simply because alcohol may be present in them? It is not only ethanol contained in beverages that are dangerous for them but also methanol and isopropanol.
Some of it dogs can absorb through their skin so it also presents risks.
What are the common household products that may contain alcohol? Well, there are a lot:
- Cleaning chemicals
- Colognes or perfumes
- Paints
- Pharmaceuticals
- Aftershave, hairspray, and mousse
- Automobile coolants and antifreeze
- Baby wipes
- Body washes
- Cough and cold medications
- Facial and skin toner
- Flea, tick, and bug sprays
- Hand sanitizer
- Inks of dyes
- Mouthwash
- Nail polish remover
- Perfumes and cologne
- Raw bread dough
- Rotten fruit and vegetables
- Rubbing alcohol
- Skin cream and hand lotion
- Some “low calorie” peanut butter
- Soy sauce
- Sugar-free gum
- Vinegar
That is a lot! So make sure to create a safe space for your dogs. Seal them out and keep them out of reach!
Conclusion
Alcohol is bad for your dogs as it is for you and they can get drunk by drinking it. The worst part of getting drunk is that it could potentially end their life. So if you have a party at home and you have dogs, be extra mindful and inform your guests what they should do.
There are also several items at home that can also be dangerous for them. Be informed so that you can be extra wary when dealing with those.
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